More Premium Cabin with New Features
The elevated cabin experience of the 2026 Honda Pilot brings more comfort and features for the whole family with more standard technology than ever, reduced cabin noise, and higher quality materials. Every 2026 Honda Pilot now features a new ultra-wide 12.3-inch touchscreen, 37% larger than the previous model year, powered by the latest HMI software for smooth, lag-free performance. It also includes a 10.2-inch Digital Instrument Cluster, now 43% larger, offering enhanced visibility and a more immersive driving experience.
Pilot now includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Google built-in, and 5G wi-fi hotspot capability. The new HMI software provides a simplified navigation structure with fewer embedded menus. Designed with simplicity in mind, the system offers three user-defined, easily programmable shortcuts on the left side of the screen. A 360-degree surround view camera is now included on the Pilot Touring (new for 2026) in addition to the Pilot Elite and Black Edition.
For a more refined driving experience, the Pilot cabin is quieter thanks to new semi-tempered door glass, door insulators, a new hood insulator and other sound absorbing technologies that reduce the transmission of engine, road and wind noise. In addition, Pilot Touring and Elite add enclosed fender liners to further reduce road noise.
Additionally, Pilot Touring now features high-contrast seating accents and door panel stitching, and a new brown leather interior is available. Elite trims and the top-of-the-line Black Edition are even more luxurious with new diamond quilted Ultra Suede seat accents and high-contrast door panel stitching. The Pilot TrailSport is now available with a brown leather interior option (in addition to black leather) with contrasting orange stitching. Pilot TrailSport also gains standard heated second row outboard seats for those chilly winter family adventures.
A power tailgate, previously available on EX-L and above trims, is now standard on all 2026 Pilot models.
More Aspirational Design
The rugged exterior design of the 2026 Pilot is even more aspirational and adventure-ready, with a bolder design that includes a new larger grille and more pronounced front and rear scuff plates. Sport and EX-L feature a new black grille with a gloss black surround, while Touring, Elite and Black Edition are distinguished with a new gloss black grille, and TrailSport with a gray grille. The new scuff plates are silver on EX-L, TrailSport, Touring and Elite, and black on Pilot Sport and Black Edition.
To further highlight the additional off-road capability of the Pilot TrailSport, its new rear scuff plate features an exclusive design with a robust off-road ready style and its rear PILOT logo gains new orange trim, matching its TrailSport badges.
Roof rails are now standard on all trims (added to EX-L), further increasing Pilot’s capability and style. Touring, Elite and Black Edition trims feature newly styled 20-inch wheels. Touring and Elite ride on new machine-finished Shark Gray alloy wheels with black lug nuts. At the top of the range, Pilot Black Edition gets new Berlina Black alloy wheels with black lug nuts.
The refreshed 2026 Pilot is available in three exciting new colors: sophisticated Solar Silver Metallic, striking Smoke Blue Pearl and TrailSport exclusive Ash Green Metallic, which is now available on all Honda TrailSport models.
Enhanced Driving Experience
The confidence-inspiring dynamics of Pilot are enhanced by a retuned electric power steering (EPS) system providing increased steering feel and precision across all driving modes. Pilot’s improved steering feedback is smooth, natural and direct, further supporting driver confidence and security during spirited driving on winding roads. The steering system’s on-center weight also has been increased for more stable-feeling and relaxed highway cruising with less input from the driver.
Powerful, Strong and Capable
The 2026 Honda Pilot features an extremely rigid platform engineered from the beginning with TrailSport's true off-road capabilities in mind, which benefits the ride, handling and overall refinement of the entire Pilot lineup. A powerful 3.5-liter DOHC V6 is standard, producing 285 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 262 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm (both SAE net). Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission tuned exclusively for Pilot, the combination is smooth and responsive.
The award-winning
Honda i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive system is available on all grades and standard on TrailSport, Touring, Elite and the top-of-the-line Black Edition. To optimize traction across driving scenarios, especially slick conditions and off-road, the torque vectoring i-VTM4™ system progressively distributes optimum torque not only between the front and rear axles, but also between the left and right rear wheels for more precise and exhilarating handling response.
Up to 70% of the engine's torque can be sent to the rear axle, and 100% of that torque can be distributed to either the left or right rear wheel. When cornering, i-VTM4™ distributes more torque to the outside rear wheel, creating a yaw moment to help turn the vehicle through corners – making for more accurate turns, reducing understeer and improving controllability.
Five standard selectable drive modes customize the driving experience for various conditions: Normal, Econ, Snow, Sport and Tow modes. EX-L models and above (with all-wheel drive) also feature a Sand mode and a Trail mode which optimize Pilot's off-road capabilities. Hill Descent Control system is standard on all Pilot models.
Pilot TrailSport is an authentic, off-road-capable SUV for family adventures with exclusive rugged hardware, including rugged all-wheel drive capabilities and robust steel skid plates that protect the underbody from damage on the trail. TrailSport’s raised off-road tuned suspension with additional ground clearance, increases articulation and improves off-road ride quality, all without sacrificing Pilot’s exceptional on-road comfort and best-in-class handling.
To take adventure-seeking families even further off the beaten path, Pilot TrailSport includes beefy all-terrain tires that substantially improve traction in dirt, sand, mud, rocky terrain and snow, while remaining quiet and comfortable on the road.
Safety for Everyone
Honda is committed to further advancing safety for everyone sharing the road. Based on this commitment, the fourth-generation Pilot is a leader in midsize SUV safety performance with standard active and passive safety technology. This includes the
Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver assistive technologies, the latest version of the Honda proprietary
Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and advanced airbag technology designed to cradle the head and offer enhanced protection – all standard on all Pilot models.
In addition, every 2026 Honda Pilot includes a new Post-Collision Braking system (PCB) to help mitigate damage and injuries sustained during multi-crash collisions.
On the 2026 Pilot the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) incorporating Lane Departure Warning (LDW); Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
Pilot Manufacturing
The fourth-generation Pilot is built exclusively in America, at the Honda Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama, using domestic and globally made parts. This continues the more than 45-year legacy of the company's commitment to build products close to the customer. Since 2006, Honda has produced more than 2.5 million Pilots in Alabama. The Honda Pilot has ranked in the top 15 on the
Cars.com 2025 American-Made Index® every year since 2016.
For more information on the Honda Pilot, click
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